Monsanto Hawaii provides prosperous habitat for bees

Honey bees may be small, but they have a big job. Available year-round, honey bees are responsible for pollinating the widest range of crops than any other pollinator species. In fact, the honey bee is responsible for pollinating one-third of the world’s crops, including the fruits, vegetables and nuts we enjoy every day. The impact that this tiny creature has on farming and our food system is invaluable.

“Monsanto Hawaii is committed to protecting the health of honey bees by taking into consideration the behavior and habitats of bee populations in our daily operations,” said Dr. John Purcell, business and technology lead at Monsanto Hawaii. “We have created a diverse flora to attract honey bees and other pollinators, and our employees have been trained to observe and protect bee populations at all times on our farms.”

Strips of raised soil barriers between crops called ‘berms’ have been planted with grass and flowering plants to help ease soil erosion and water runoff.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Blue flax (Linum perenne), California bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) are just some of the flowering plants that you will find at our berms or pollinator refuges in Hawaii.

They also provide habitats for honey bees and other pollinators like, monarch butterflies and also beneficial insects such as ladybugs, minute pirate bugs, wasps to flourish. Close to 20 different species blend of flora have been added to berms on Oahu, Maui and Molokai.